4 Best Restaurants in Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

The gritty-gourmet concept of this upscale Jacó hot spot plays with the senses with a menu that features fresh, locally grown ingredients. Check the blackboard for specials—whatever has inspired the chef that day—and wash it down with a signature lemongrass martini. Save room for extraordinary desserts like chocolate cheesecake or peanut-butter-and-banana flambé.

White tablecloths, glass walls, and yellow-and-blue-checkered curtains contribute to the sophisticated but not overly stuffy atmosphere of this hotel dining room on the top terrace at Hotel Villa Caletas. Appetizers range from the traditional escargots to a shrimp-and-lobster bisque, and entrées include beef tenderloin with chimichurri, jumbo shrimp sautéed with white wine and passion fruit, and roasted duck with truffle oil. Expensive prix-fixe meals on Friday and Saturday include your choice of appetizer, main dish, and dessert. A covered terrace below the restaurant is popular for sunset viewing over a cocktail and offers a seafood-focused menu that is much less expensive than choices in the main restaurant. During low season, the restaurant is only open on weekends, so be sure to call ahead. 

A convenient location, free Wi-Fi, and good food make this roadside restaurant, just south of the entrance to Tárcoles, a popular pit stop for those traveling between San José and the Central Pacific beaches. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner with entrées that range from hamburgers and pasta to fried shrimp and a pricey surf and turf. The seafood soup and fried chicken are popular with locals. This restaurant is on the main road to Jacó, so plan to hear the sound of semis while you dig into your rice and beans.

Playa Hermosa's original nightlife spot has a wooden deck in back overlooking the beach that is great for lunch and sunset, mostly because of the pleasant sea breezes and view of the surfers. The usual bar food—Tex-Mex standards and burgers—is complemented by fresh seafood, including ceviche, grilled tuna, lobster, and jumbo shrimp.